High Place 2

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View looking northeast at 7 of the 10 standing stones that were excavated by Macalister (early 1900’s) and re-excavated by Dever (1960’s). They date to the Middle Bronze II Period (ca. 1800—1550 B.C.). On the left side of the image the square basin, carved out on the top, which may have formed the base into which a standard was placed.

The function of these stones is not certain, but it has plausibly been suggested that they were set up by 10 tribes (one for each tribe) who make a treaty (covenant) among themselves, and possibly these stones were set up as a memorial to commemorate that treaty.

Note how the Israelites set up stones at the foot of Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:1–8), at the Jordan River crossing (Josh 8:30–35), and at a covenant renewal ceremony at Shechem (Josh 24:26–28).

The above image is from PEF-P-MAC-GEZER-Vol-II.-FrontispieceFor a brief description of Gezer, its biblical significance, and a map Click Here.